Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
Last season, FC Barcelona Bàsquet came within a step of reaching the Final Four. In the offseason, the team has not weakened and is clearly aiming for a place in the final this year. Can they start the tournament on a high note?
Žalgiris Kaunas
Žalgiris Kaunas have played three official matches this season and won each of them. However, all these games were within the Lithuanian League, where the level of competition is significantly lower than even average EuroLeague clubs. They scored an average of 91 points in these matches. It's worth noting that they conceded an average of 71.6 points per game, even from not the strongest opponents. Barcelona Bàsquet are a team of a completely different level, and strategies that work in the Lithuanian League are unlikely to be as effective against one of Europe's best clubs.
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
At the start of the season, Barcelona Bàsquet have shown they are in good form. Following a close defeat to Real Madrid Baloncesto in the Supercup semifinal (83:89), they responded with a resounding victory over Fundación CB Granada in the league (91:65). A notable performance came from their forward Chimezie Metu, who has NBA experience. In that match, he scored 17 points and grabbed three rebounds. In fact, five Barcelona players scored at least 12 points, highlighting the versatility of their offence.
Žalgiris Kaunas vs FC Barcelona Bàsquet Prediction
FC Barcelona Bàsquet have a six-game winning streak in head-to-head meetings, and it's unclear how this trend could be interrupted now. Considering the form of both teams, we believe the Lithuanian side will pose some challenges, but the victory will ultimately go to the visitors.
